Integrated circuit including cross-coupled transistors with two transistors of different type formed by same gate level structure and two transistors of different type formed by separate gate level structures

1. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a first transistor of a first transistor type formed in part by a first gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in a first direction, wherein the first gate electrode corresponds to a first portion of a first gate level conductive structure formed within a first gate level channel within a gate level region of the integrated circuit;

a first transistor of a second transistor type formed in part by a second gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, wherein the second gate electrode corresponds to a second portion of the first gate level conductive structure, wherein the second gate electrode is substantially co-aligned with the first gate electrode along a common line of extent in the first direction;

a second transistor of the first transistor type formed in part by a third gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, wherein the third gate electrode corresponds to a portion of a second gate level conductive structure formed within a second gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit;

a second transistor of the second transistor type formed in part by a fourth gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, wherein the fourth gate electrode corresponds to a portion of a third gate level conductive structure formed within a third gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit,

wherein the first and second transistors of the first transistor type are formed in part by diffusion regions of a first diffusion type, and wherein the first and second transistors of the second transistor type are formed in part by diffusion regions of a second diffusion type, and wherein the diffusion regions of the first diffusion type are physically separate from the diffusion regions of the second diffusion type,

wherein each of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures is defined within its corresponding gate level channel without physically contacting another gate level conductive structure defined within an adjoining gate level channel,

wherein each of the first transistor of the first transistor type and the second transistor of the first transistor type is formed in part by a shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type,

wherein each of the first transistor of the second transistor type and the second transistor of the second transistor type is formed in part by a shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type, and

wherein the first gate level channel is located between the second and third gate level channels.

2. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a fourth gate level conductive structure formed within a corresponding gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure is positioned between two neighboring gate level conductive structures, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure does not form a gate electrode of any transistor.

3. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 2 , wherein a size of the fourth gate level conductive structure as measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is substantially equal to a size of at least one of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures as measured in the second direction.

4. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a substrate region, wherein the gate level region of the integrated circuit is formed above the substrate region; and

an interconnect level region formed above the substrate region, the interconnect level region including a first linear-shaped conductive interconnect structure formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction.

5. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 4 , wherein the interconnect level region includes a second linear-shaped conductive interconnect structure formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, the second linear-shaped conductive interconnect structure positioned next to and spaced apart from the first linear-shaped conductive interconnect structure.

6. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type is electrically connected to the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type through one or more conductive structures that include one of the first and second linear-shaped conductive interconnect structures.

7. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a substrate region, wherein the gate level region of the integrated circuit is formed above the substrate region; and

an interconnect level region formed above the substrate region, the interconnect level region including a first linear-shaped conductive interconnect structure formed to extend lengthwise in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

8. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 7 , wherein the interconnect level region includes a second linear-shaped conductive interconnect structure formed to extend lengthwise in the second direction, the second linear-shaped conductive interconnect structure positioned next to and spaced apart from the first linear-shaped conductive interconnect structure.

9. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 8 , wherein the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type is electrically connected to the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type through one or more conductive structures that include one of the first and second linear-shaped conductive interconnect structures.

10. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures is linear-shaped and formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction.

11. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 10 , wherein at least two of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures has a substantially equal length as measured in the first direction.

12. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 11 , wherein at least two of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures has a substantially equal length as measured in the first direction.

13. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 12 , further comprising:

a fourth gate level conductive structure formed within a corresponding gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure is positioned between two neighboring gate level conductive structures, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure does not form a gate electrode of any transistor.

14. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 13 ,further comprising:

a fifth gate level conductive structure formed within a corresponding gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit, the fifth gate level conductive structure including a first portion that forms a gate electrode of a third transistor of the first transistor type and a second portion that forms a gate electrode of a third transistor of the second transistor type, wherein a size of the fifth gate level conductive structure as measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is substantially equal to a size of the fourth gate level conductive structure as measured in the second direction.

15. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a first conductive contacting structure formed to physically connect to the first gate level conductive structure;

a second conductive contacting structure formed to physically connect to the second gate level conductive structure; and

a third conductive contacting structure formed to physically connect to the third gate level conductive structure,

wherein the first conductive contacting structure is offset in the first direction from at least one of the second and third conductive contacting structures.

16. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:

a substrate region, wherein the gate level region of the integrated circuit is formed above the substrate region; and

a plurality of interconnect level regions formed above the substrate region, wherein the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type is electrically connected to the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type through one or more conductive interconnect structures formed in each of at least two of the plurality of interconnect level regions,

wherein each of the plurality of interconnect level regions is part of a corresponding interconnect level of the integrated circuit, wherein any given one of the one or more conductive interconnect structures includes 1) a corresponding first connection area portion that physically connects to at least one structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, and 2) a corresponding second connection area portion that physically connects to another structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, wherein the corresponding first connection area portion does not vertically overlap the corresponding second connection area portion relative to the substrate region.

17. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 16 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes has a lengthwise centerline, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes are positioned according to an equal centerline-to-centerline pitch as measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, such that a distance as measured in the second direction between lengthwise centerlines of different ones of the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes is an integer multiple of the equal centerline-to-centerline pitch.

18. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 17 , wherein each of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures is linear-shaped and formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction.

19. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 18 , further comprising:

a fourth gate level conductive structure formed within a corresponding gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure is positioned between two neighboring gate level conductive structures, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure does not form a gate electrode of any transistor.

20. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:

a substrate region, wherein the gate level region of the integrated circuit is formed above the substrate region; and

an interconnect level region formed above the substrate region to include a number of conductive interconnect structures that form part of an electrical connection between the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type and the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type, and wherein each conductive interconnect structure that forms part of the electrical connection between the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type and the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type is located within the interconnect level region,

wherein the interconnect level region is part of an interconnect level of the integrated circuit, wherein any given one of the number of conductive interconnect structures includes 1) a corresponding first connection area portion that physically connects to at least one structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, and 2) a corresponding second connection area portion that physically connects to another structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, wherein the corresponding first connection area portion does not vertically overlap the corresponding second connection area portion relative to the substrate region.

21. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 20 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes has a lengthwise centerline, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes are positioned according to an equal centerline-to-centerline pitch as measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, such that a distance as measured in the second direction between lengthwise centerlines of different ones of the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes is an integer multiple of the equal centerline-to-centerline pitch.

22. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 21 , wherein each of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures is linear-shaped and formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction.

23. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 22 , further comprising:

a fourth gate level conductive structure formed within a corresponding gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure is positioned between two neighboring gate level conductive structures, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure does not form a gate electrode of any transistor.

24. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 23 , further comprising:

a fifth gate level conductive structure formed within a corresponding gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit, the fifth gate level conductive structure including a first portion that forms a gate electrode of a third transistor of the first transistor type and a second portion that forms a gate electrode of a third transistor of the second transistor type, wherein a size of the fifth gate level conductive structure as measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is substantially equal to a size of the fourth gate level conductive structure as measured in the second direction.

25. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first conductive contacting structure is offset in the first direction from each of the second and third conductive contacting structures.

26. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 25 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes has a lengthwise centerline, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes are positioned according to an equal centerline-to-centerline pitch as measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, such that a distance as measured in the second direction between lengthwise centerlines of different ones of the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes is an integer multiple of the equal centerline-to-centerline pitch.

27. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 26 , wherein each of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures is linear-shaped and formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction.

28. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 27 , further comprising:

a fourth gate level conductive structure formed within a corresponding gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure is positioned between two neighboring gate level conductive structures, wherein the fourth gate level conductive structure does not form a gate electrode of any transistor.

29. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 28 , further comprising:

a substrate region, wherein the gate level region of the integrated circuit is formed above the substrate region; and

an interconnect level region formed above the substrate region to include a number of conductive interconnect structures that form part of an electrical connection between the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type and the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type, and wherein each conductive interconnect structure that forms part of the electrical connection between the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type and the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type is located within the interconnect level region

wherein the interconnect level region is part of an interconnect level of the integrated circuit, wherein any given one of the number of conductive interconnect structures includes 1) a corresponding first connection area portion that physically connects to at least one structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, and 2) a corresponding second connection area portion that physically connects to another structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, wherein the corresponding first connection area portion does not vertically overlap the corresponding second connection area portion relative to the substrate region.

30. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes has a lengthwise centerline, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes are positioned according to an equal centerline-to-centerline pitch as measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, such that a distance as measured in the second direction between lengthwise centerlines of different ones of the first, second, third, and fourth gate electrodes is an integer multiple of the equal centerline-to-centerline pitch.

31. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 30 , wherein each of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures is linear-shaped and formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction.

32. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 31 , wherein the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type is electrically connected to the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type.

33. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 32 , further comprising:

a substrate region, wherein the gate level region of the integrated circuit is formed above the substrate region; and

a plurality of interconnect level regions formed above the substrate region, wherein each of the plurality of interconnect level regions is part of a corresponding interconnect level of the integrated circuit, wherein one of the plurality of interconnect level regions includes a number of conductive interconnect structures that form part of an electrical connection between the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type and the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type,

wherein any given one of the number of conductive interconnect structures includes 1) a corresponding first connection area portion that physically connects to at least one structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, and 2) a corresponding second connection area portion that physically connects to another structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, wherein the corresponding first connection area portion does not vertically overlap the corresponding second connection area portion relative to the substrate region.

34. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 33 , wherein some of the number of conductive interconnect structures within one of the plurality of interconnect level regions form an electrical connection between the second gate level conductive structure and the third gate level conductive structure.

35. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 32 , further comprising:

a substrate region, wherein the gate level region of the integrated circuit is formed above the substrate region; and

a plurality of interconnect level regions formed above the substrate region, wherein the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type is electrically connected to the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type through one or more conductive interconnect structures formed in each of at least two of the plurality of interconnect level regions,

wherein each of the plurality of interconnect level regions is part of a corresponding interconnect level of the integrated circuit, wherein any given one of the one or more conductive interconnect structures includes 1) a corresponding first connection area portion that physically connects to at least one structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, and 2) a corresponding second connection area portion that physically connects to another structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, wherein the corresponding first connection area portion does not vertically overlap the corresponding second connection area portion relative to the substrate region.

36. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 35 , wherein at least two of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures has a substantially equal length as measured in the first direction.

37. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 32 , wherein at least two of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures has a substantially equal length as measured in the first direction.

38. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 37 , further comprising:

a substrate region, wherein the gate level region of the integrated circuit is formed above the substrate region; and

a plurality of interconnect level regions formed above the substrate region, wherein each of the plurality of interconnect level regions is part of a corresponding interconnect level of the integrated circuit, wherein one of the plurality of interconnect level regions includes a number of conductive interconnect structures that form part of an electrical connection between the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type and the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type,

wherein any given one of the number of conductive interconnect structures includes 1) a corresponding first connection area portion that physically connects to at least one structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, and 2) a corresponding second connection area portion that physically connects to another structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, wherein the corresponding first connection area portion does not vertically overlap the corresponding second connection area portion relative to the substrate region.

39. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 38 , wherein some of the number of conductive interconnect structures within one of the plurality of interconnect level regions form an electrical connection between the second gate level conductive structure and the third gate level conductive structure.

40. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 39 , further comprising:

a first conductive contacting structure formed to physically connect to the second gate level conductive structure, wherein the second gate level conductive structure extends away from the first conductive contacting structure by a first extension distance as measured in the first direction away from the second transistor of the first transistor type; and

a second conductive contacting structure formed to physically connect to the third gate level conductive structure, wherein the third gate level conductive structure extends away from the second conductive contacting structure by a second extension distance as measured in the first direction away from the second transistor of the second transistor type,

wherein the first and second extension distances are different.

41. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 37 , further comprising:

a substrate region, wherein the gate level region of the integrated circuit is formed above the substrate region,

wherein either the second gate level conductive structure includes a portion that extends over a non-diffusion area of the substrate region located between two diffusion regions of the second diffusion type, or the third gate level conductive structure includes a portion that extends over a non-diffusion area of the substrate region located between two diffusion regions of the first diffusion type, or the second gate level conductive structure includes a portion that extends over a non-diffusion area of the substrate region located between two diffusion regions of the second diffusion type and the third gate level conductive structure includes a portion that extends over a non-diffusion area of the substrate region located between two diffusion regions of the first diffusion type.

42. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 41 , further comprising:

a plurality of interconnect level regions formed above the substrate region, wherein each of the plurality of interconnect level regions is part of a corresponding interconnect level of the integrated circuit, wherein one of the plurality of interconnect level regions includes a number of conductive interconnect structures that form part of an electrical connection between the shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type and the shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type,

wherein any given one of the number of conductive interconnect structures includes 1) a corresponding first connection area portion that physically connects to at least one structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, and 2) a corresponding second connection area portion that physically connects to another structure in any level of the integrated circuit different from the interconnect level that includes the given conductive interconnect structure, wherein the corresponding first connection area portion does not vertically overlap the corresponding second connection area portion relative to the substrate region.

43. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 42 , wherein some of the number of conductive interconnect structures within one of the plurality of interconnect level regions form an electrical connection between the second gate level conductive structure and the third gate level conductive structure.

44. An integrated circuit as recited in claim 42 , further comprising:

a first conductive contacting structure formed to physically connect to the second gate level conductive structure, wherein the second gate level conductive structure extends away from the first conductive contacting structure by a first extension distance as measured in the first direction away from the second transistor of the first transistor type; and

a second conductive contacting structure formed to physically connect to the third gate level conductive structure, wherein the third gate level conductive structure extends away from the second conductive contacting structure by a second extension distance as measured in the first direction away from the second transistor of the second transistor type,

wherein the first and second extension distances are different.

45. A method for creating a layout of an integrated circuit, comprising:

operating a computer to define a first transistor of a first transistor type formed in part by a first gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in a first direction, wherein the first gate electrode corresponds to a first portion of a first gate level conductive structure formed within a first gate level channel within a gate level region of the integrated circuit;

operating a computer to define a first transistor of a second transistor type formed in part by a second gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, wherein the second gate electrode corresponds to a second portion of the first gate level conductive structure, wherein the second gate electrode is substantially co-aligned with the first gate electrode along a common line of extent in the first direction;

operating a computer to define a second transistor of the first transistor type formed in part by a third gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, wherein the third gate electrode corresponds to a portion of a second gate level conductive structure formed within a second gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit;

operating a computer to define a second transistor of the second transistor type formed in part by a fourth gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, wherein the fourth gate electrode corresponds to a portion of a third gate level conductive structure formed within a third gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit,

wherein the first and second transistors of the first transistor type are formed in part by diffusion regions of a first diffusion type, and wherein the first and second transistors of the second transistor type are formed in part by diffusion regions of a second diffusion type, and wherein the diffusion regions of the first diffusion type are physically separate from the diffusion regions of the second diffusion type,

wherein each of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures is defined within its corresponding gate level channel so as to not physically contact another gate level conductive structure defined within an adjoining gate level channel,

wherein each of the first transistor of the first transistor type and the second transistor of the first transistor type is defined in part by a shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type,

wherein each of the first transistor of the second transistor type and the second transistor of the second transistor type is defined in part by a shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type, and

wherein the first gate level channel is located between the second and third gate level channels within the layout of the integrated circuit.

46. “A data storage device having program instructions stored”thereon for generating a layout of an integrated circuit, comprising:

program instructions for defining a first transistor of a first transistor type formed in part by a first gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in a first direction, wherein the first gate electrode corresponds to a first portion of a first gate level conductive structure formed within a first gate level channel within a gate level region of the integrated circuit;

program instructions for defining a first transistor of a second transistor type formed in part by a second gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, wherein the second gate electrode corresponds to a second portion of the first gate level conductive structure, wherein the second gate electrode is substantially co-aligned with the first gate electrode along a common line of extent in the first direction;

program instructions for defining a second transistor of the first transistor type formed in part by a third gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, wherein the third gate electrode corresponds to a portion of a second gate level conductive structure formed within a second gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit;

program instructions for defining a second transistor of the second transistor type formed in part by a fourth gate electrode formed to extend lengthwise in the first direction, wherein the fourth gate electrode corresponds to a portion of a third gate level conductive structure formed within a third gate level channel within the gate level region of the integrated circuit,

wherein the first and second transistors of the first transistor type are formed in part by diffusion regions of a first diffusion type, and wherein the first and second transistors of the second transistor type are formed in part by diffusion regions of a second diffusion type, and wherein the diffusion regions of the first diffusion type are physically separate from the diffusion regions of the second diffusion type,

wherein each of the first, second, and third gate level conductive structures is defined within its corresponding gate level channel so as to not physically contact another gate level conductive structure defined within an adjoining gate level channel,

wherein each of the first transistor of the first transistor type and the second transistor of the first transistor type is defined in part by a shared diffusion region of the first diffusion type,

wherein each of the first transistor of the second transistor type and the second transistor of the second transistor type is defined in part by a shared diffusion region of the second diffusion type, and

wherein the first gate level channel is located between the second and third gate level channels within the layout of the integrated circuit.